Journalists in Serbia protest against mounting attacks on media скачать в хорошем качестве

Journalists in Serbia protest against mounting attacks on media

(1 Apr 2026) RESTRICTIONS ASSOCIATED PRESS Belgrade, Serbia - 1 April 2026 1. Various of Serbian journalists blocking traffic on street during a protest 2. Close of a person wearing a yellow jacket that reads PRESS 3. Various of Veran Matic, center, in blue jacket, president of Serbian Commission for the investigation of slain journalists 4. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Veran Matic, Chairman of the Commission for Investigating Murder of Journalists: “This impunity that we have witnessed in the last year only gave a green light to thugs to be more violent towards journalists. The escalation of violence against journalists is, among other things, designed to prevent the reporting on what is inevitably happening, and that is elections where students and the opposition are getting organized, and the results speak to that. The government is very afraid and endangered by this, and in this fear it does the worst thing possible, and that is violence.” 5. Various of news crews at event 6. Set up of Rade Djuric, legal researcher for the Serbian Independent Journalists’ Association, at protest 7. SOUNDBITE (Serbian) Rade Djuric, legal researcher for the Serbian Independent Journalists’ Association: "The reason for organizing this protest are the violent events on election day in various places in Serbia. On that day, dozens of journalists suffered from verbal and physical violence, and we have colleagues with a serious number of grave bodily injuries, and the message that this state of impunity has to stop, that the state and the government bare the responsibility for this situation.” 8. Various of journalists at protest, talking through a bullhorn 9. Microphones of Serbian news outlets at event STORYLINE: Dozens of Serbian journalists blocked traffic outside the offices of populist President Aleksandar Vucic on Wednesday, in protest against what they say are mounting attacks and pressure on the media in the Balkan country.   The gathering in Belgrade was organized after several journalists reporting on local elections in Serbia on Sunday were beaten during violent incidents that were reported in at least three out of 10 towns where the ballot was held.   Hundreds of Vucic's supporters also gathered on Wednesday in a park on the other side of the presidency building where he has maintained a camp for over a year, apparently as a human shield against protests.   “This impunity that we have witnessed in the last year only gave a green light to thugs to be more violent towards journalists," said Veran Matic, Chairman of the Commission for Investigating Murder of Journalists. Around 20 journalists faced attacks on Sunday while more than 100 attacks have been recorded this year, the association said.   International observers present at the Serbian local vote have said they witnessed violence and irregularities. The European Union (EU) has called on the authorities to punish those responsible. Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos said such reports were unacceptable.   Serbia is formally a candidate nation for membership in the 27-nation bloc but Vucic has been accused of clamping down on democratic freedoms while nourishing ties with Russia and China.   The vote on Sunday was seen as a test for Vucic following more than a year of youth-led street protests that have shaken his tight grip on power. Vucic declared victory of his right-wing populist Serbian Progressive Party in all 10 municipalities. AP video shot by: Marko Drobnjakovic   =========================================================== Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...